Pad for invalids



Oct. 6, 1936. w. H. BLATH 2,056,767

PAD FOR INVALIDS Filed Oct. 15, 1955 6 A 7 l v 8 5 I i I lNVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 6, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ran ron nwsuns I William H. Blath, Beechhurst, N. r. Application October 15, 1935, Serial No. 45,045

1 Claim. (01. 128-182) This invention relates to improvements in pads for invalids, the principal object of the invention being to provide a. back .pad attachable to the body of the user so that it will be held in posi- 5 tion whether the patient is lying in bed or sitting, and which pad will permit free play of the spinal column in either position of the wearer.

Other objects-and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

In the drawing accompanying this-'speciflcation,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a pad embodying the features of the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

It is well known that persons who are obliged to lie on their backs or to sit in a fixed position for long. periods of time frequently becmne bedsore, particularly in the region adjacent to the spine, for the reason that that region is in continuous contact with the surface of the bed or 'chair in which the invalid is reclining. In,other words, while it may be possible for the patient to relieve one side or the other by a slight shift of the pressure of the body,ethe spine and the region thereabout must remain in contact with the bed under practically a constant pressure since it acts as a pivot for the shifting movements referred to. Moreover, with persons in a more or less emaciated condition, the spinal column projects out beyond the. surface of the 'body, so that insuch cases the pressure on the spine is increased and the discomfort of lying on the back is intensified.

The object of the invention, theref re is pad being of sumcient thickness to produce a" substantial cushioning effect. At its upper and lower ends the pad is cut out, as indicated at Iandltoaccommodatethe-neckandbuttocks respectivelyoftheusenandtapesor'strapsl arese'cunedattheoppositesideedges,which tapesmaybebroughttogetherandtiedmfront ofthebodyofthewearer therebytoretainthe padinplaee.

Animportantfeatmeofthepadhtheformation mm thereof of a longitudinally ex- A imately rectangular pad of cushioning material toeachotheralongtheircenterportionsand tending opening 5 of such width, and length that when in use the spine and adjacent portions of the back of the wearer will lie within said opening and will thereby be relieved of pressure incident to contact with the mattress or other sur- I face on which the patient may be lying.

As shown herein, the pad is provided with a removable cover, said cover comprising two pieces 6 of sheeting or other suitable fabric cut to the shape of the pad, said cover pieces being united 10 along the edges of the central opening by a strip 1 and provided at the outer edges with tapes 8 by which they may be fastened together at the side edges of the pad, as shown in the drawing. It will'be obvious that the cover is applied 16 to the pad by passing one of the pieces 6 through the elongated opening 5 of the pad, and, after I spreading the said cover piece over the oppomte effective in a sitting'as in a lying position.

It will of course be understood that the pad will be. made in large, small and intermediate sizessoastomeettheneedsofyarious sisesof bodies.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim-is:

A back pad for invalids, comprising an approxof' substantial thickness, said sheet pad having an elongated opening extending longitudinally thereof at its central portion'therebytosupport .thebodyoftheuserwiththespinalcolumnout of contact with the pad, said pad having portions thereof out out at its upper and lower ends respectively to accommodate the neck and buttocksoftheuser,strapssecuredinsaidpadat opposite sides thereof and adjacent its upperand lowerendsforfasteningthepadtothebodyof theuser whereby thelattermaymove from-a lyingmasittingpositionandviceversawithout' disturbing the pad, andremovable cover membersprotectingtheoppositesurfacesofthem. said cover membersbeingp'ermanmtlyconnected havingmeansfortemporarilyeonnectingthan toeachotherandtothepadatoppositestdes wnmunmm. "c 

